New York Jets Crush Bengals, Secure Fifth Seed In AFC Playoffs

NFL News - January 4th, 2010 - Written by Bryan

The New York Jets may have benefited from their schedule throughout the last two weeks of the regular season, but the way they played against both Indianapolis and Cincinnati earned them a wild-card berth. The Jets trounced Cincinnati in the final game of the regular season 37-0, and in doing so secured the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs. Ironically, the opponent for the Jets next week in the first-round of the playoffs will be Cincinnati.

Oddsmakers believed that Cincinnati would rest their starters as they had already wrapped up a playoff spot. New York, however, had their season on the line. This was evident in the line as the Jets came into the match-up as a 9 1/2-point favorite despite an inferior record. Oddsmakers had it picked correctly, but even setting New York as nearly a double-digit favorite was not enough. The Jets easily covered the line with their 37-point victory. Despite Cincinnati not scoring, the offensive output exhibited by New York was enough to send the game to the over. The over/under had been established at 33 1/2 points prior to kickoff.

The win for the Jets sends the team to their first playoff berth in three years.

Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez managed the game well despite accumulating mediocre stats throughout the season. On the night, Sanchez only threw 16 passes, completing eight for 63 yards. This was more than enough.

"It's a special feeling," Sanchez said to the AP in the post-game interview. "A few weeks ago, people had us counted out."

The Jets rushing attack was the key that opened the door to the lopsided victory. The tandem of running back Thomas Jones and receiver Brad Smith accounted for the majority of the team's 257 rushing yards. Jones totaled 27 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Smith gained 97 yards on only four carries, including a 32-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Defensively, the Jets were equally dominant. For the second time this year, the top-ranked defense in the NFL shut a team out - a feat that is very difficult to accomplish.

Cincinnati was held to only 72 total yards on offense and held the ball for only 18 minutes. This can be attributed to the fact that the Bengals pulled the majority of their starters in the first half. Quarterback Carson Palmer threw only 11 passes on the night. The Jets will get the full Bengals team next week during one of the 2009 NFL Playoffs, this time in Cincinnati.

"That's a great team we have to play again," Sanchez said, "so, we have to be ready for a dogfight at their place."

New York faced Indianapolis two weeks ago that also pulled the majority of it's starters, but head coach Rex Ryan believes his team deserves its playoff berth.

"I don't believe we backed into anything," Ryan said in the post-game interview to the AP, "so we're going to try to prove it."

Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is not worried about the performance his team displayed in New York and remarked that the team will be more than ready for the challenge.

"We'll be fine," he said. "We'll study a lot of things we can fix, especially offensively. Next week will be a lot more serious."

The rematch between the Bengals and Jets next week is one of three rematches from week 17. Philadelphia plays Dallas and Arizona matches up with Green Bay.